All you beer drinkers would think something is wrong with all those store bought beers you mentioned, if you get used to home made beer. John and I have both been making home made beer for a few years now. It tastes so differnet, and the carbonation is so different from the way factories carbonate, you really think something is wrong with store bought. Once you also understand about beer flavors, you also have a different perspective about them.

We started out using he Mr. Beer making kits, and have done the standard recipes and also some of the custom recipes, that also kick up the alcohol levels to 6-7%. all storebought beer is limited to 3.7%

first..I also like Newcastle Brown Ale a-lot (who wouldn't?)second..There was a time (for about a year or so) that the only alcoholic beverage I would drink was a Margarita. Margaritas are GOOD.third..I bought a beer making kit once..but it intimidated me too much...so..no beer from that, for me..got a nice bucket, though.

Willie Wonka quotes..What is this Wonka, some kind of funhouse? Why? Are you having fun? A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men. We are the music makers, we are the dreamers of dreams

No longer true Greeney. Well at least not here in New England. Vermont beers can now go up to 14%. Most high alcohol brews Hoover around the 5-7%. Harpoon has a Leviaton Series of brews that are all 7% or more. Long Trail has Double bag, which is double the content of their Regular Ale.

The micro Brew tradition is very, very strong in New England.

The history of brewing in the US is actually a really interesting story. From pre-prohibition micro brews to prohibition brews to the post prohibition and now back in the micro brew phase.

Shadow I believe in the USA the limit is 3.7% for store bought, but I will check. I'm sure Europe is totally different. John and I started with the Mr. beer kits using the standard recipes. It takes time and you can;t expect to drink it like you are downing a six pack. It is a user friendly way to start, as the recipes are precooked, and the kegs come with the right amount of bottles for a batch of 2 gallons. Total process takes about 2 weeks, up to several more weeks for other recipes that add fruits. I have 3 kits, so can brew 3 sperate 2-gallon batches at a time. I'm overdue to get by kegs going again, which are called the fermenters.

Bionic, sounds like you got the kid of kit that makes a 5 gallon bucket. I also have one of those that was a gift, that I have not used yet. Take method requires you to actually cook the ingrediants, which is called Wort. It also comes with a bottle capper and cap, so I need to get about 50 12 ounce bottles for that. The Mr. Beer kids use reusable plastic liters and the caps are also reusable that screw on. Also the 5 gal. kit I have comes with a specific gravity tester, and the carbonation is done a little different. The bucket kits requires a lot more tasks and ability, a little more advanced. The Mr. Beer kits are much more user friendly. It isn;t for everybody, but if you like doing it, it is fun to do. John and I both have fun with it, sharing our beers, and also my daughter and son in law both make beer too.

Greeney, I'm not in Europe. I'm in New Hampshire. Here you can buy up to 12% for beer in stores.Vermont is around 16% in stores and Over for breweries. Above those numbers you have to buy from State Liquor stores.Even Bud is 5.0%.

I think the 3.7 might just because they try to regulate the hell out of life in California there.

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